Matchday Memories: On This Day 2023 – See Sky Blue Josh & Vik Bag Brum Win At CBS!

Mark Robins

On this day just a season ago Mark Robins‘ Sky Blues continued their excellent recent run to the Championship play-off spots (only one defeat in sixteen games). Their opponents at the CBS Arena in front of a CBS league record crowd of 30,175 were local rivals (and recent ex landlords) Birmingham City.  The Blues were managed by CCFPA member, ex Sky Blue midfielder John Eustace and his men were downed by two clear goals, both netted in the first half. John was sent to the stands during the game after complaining too much!

Josh Eccles

Back in the previous September MR‘s men had got a goalless draw at St.Andrews so four points out of six was a good return from the Brummagems! CCFC shotstopper Ben Wilson achieved his remarkable 20th clean sheet for the Sky Blues in this game and would go on to get another two in the one remaining ‘normal’ league games and three Championship play-off matches.

‘Cov Kid’ Academy graduate Josh Eccles netted his first goal in Sky Blue colours after just three minutes calmly slotting home from a Viktor Gyökeres cut-back to unsettle the Blues and their noisy 4,500 supporters and hand us a useful early advantage. Our second came from a penalty by the Swedish striking star after 38 minutes emphatically coverted after the spot-kick awarded for a handball was drawn by a surge by Josh.

Viktor Gyokeres in the Sky Blue

Like Vik (now both also Association members), Kyle McFadzean and Brazilian Gustavo Hamer also had early chances and the Swede almost got City’s third in the second half, spinning his man on the half-way line and charging towards goal, but sadly his effort sailed just missed! Though attacking action was more muted in the second 45 minutes the Sky Blues performed well to see out the win.A detailed contemporary BBC Match report can be found by clicking here. Also a vlog from a young Blues fan shows the Sky Blues goals here.

 

The two teams were as follows:-

 

Sky Blues: (CCFPA members underlined)

Ben Wilson; Luke McNally, Kyle McFadzean, Callum Doyle; Brooke Norton-Cuffy, Josh Eccles (sub. Jamie Allen -90), Liam Kelly (c), Gustavo Hamer, Jake Bidwell; Matty Godden and Viktor Gyokeres.Unused subs:  Jonathan Panzo, Josh Wilson-Esbrand, Sean Maguire, Tyler Walker, Fankaty Dabo and Simon Moore (gk)

Birmingham City: 

Neil Etheridge; Maxime Colin, Kevin Long, Marc Roberts, Auston Trusty (sub. Emmanuel Longelo -86) , Krystian Bielik, Jordan James (sub. Juninho Bacuna -65), Jobe Bellingham, Tahith Chong (sub. Hannibal Mejbri -65), Reda Khadra (sub. Jordan Graham -86) and Lukas Jutkiewicz (c).

Unused subs: Dion Sanderson, Harlee Dean and Zach Jeacock (gk) Yellow cards: Krystian Bielik (48’), Hannibal Mejbri (90+5′) Referee: James Linington

Lukas in the Sky Blue 2010-11

Lukas Jutkiewicz was a Sky Blues striker (2010-12) prior to turning out for the Birmingham club.

As all those in Sky Blue land now know the Sky Blues stayed in 5th to earn a play-off semi-final over two legs with Middlesbrough who they dispatched 1-0 on aggregate to get to the Wembley final to face third placed Luton Town. They went out in the cruellest way possible after drawing 1-1 at full-time and extra time only to go out on penalties 6-7 after half-a-dozen immaculate penalties from each side as the Hatters made their way up to the Premier League. As in this current season’s F.A.Cup Semi Final defeat at Wembley over 36,000 Sky Blues fans were left proud but gutted.

CCFC 2022-23 (May)

Birmingham City finished 17th well clear of the relegated trio of Reading, Blackpool and bottom club Wigan Athletic. Champions Burnley and Runners up Sheffield United got promoted with the Hatters.

 Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images.

 

Matchday Memories: On This Day 1989 – See Sillett’s Sky Blues (& Gary’s Goal) Silence Stretford End!

Sky Blue Manager- John Sillett

On this day (29th April) in 1989 the Sky Blues under former full back John Sillett were nearing the end of their highly successful Division One season. Though they were coming of the back of a sound 3-0 beating at Queens Park Rangers the previous Saturday they had some hopes against mid-table Manchester United at Old Trafford today.

City had beaten the Red Devils at Highfield Road back in December by the only goal of the game scored by ‘Big Cyrille’ Regis nine minutes from the final whistle. Additionally, United had only scored three times in their last nine games so it was not so surprising that ‘Oggy‘ and his defence were able to produce a clean sheet. The Mancunians never really threatened City after the Sky Blues’ Stewart Robson hit the Man.Utd. bar just after the game resumed, after a goalless first half.

Sky Blue Gary Bannister

At last, after 72 minutes, the Sky Blues got their breakthrough to the delight of the Sky Blues fans amongst the very poor (for them) 29,799 crowd as City forward Gary Bannister escaped the clutches of United’s Paul McGrath for once and slotted in to silence Old Trafford. United boss Alex Ferguson was now under more pressure as it became clear the Red Devils would finish another season trophyless.

In an interesting footnote, a young Mark Robins (now of course on his second stint as a successful Sky Blue ‘gaffer’) came on as a substitute for the home team in this game! Another future Sky Blue player and manager Gordon Strachan was on the Red Devils’ books at this time.

Thanks to former CCFPA committee member Dean Nelson you can watch Gary’s goal again plus some other brief highlights by clicking on the link or image below (or if that is not enough a slightly different selection of the match action can be found in the link and image beneath this)!:-

https://youtu.be/bHChaaLoW2w

https://youtu.be/bD2UHOqMWG0

The late John Sillett‘s Sky Blues that day lined up as follows:-

Steve Ogrizovic, Brian Borrows, Tony Dobson, Dean Emerson, Brian Kilcline, Trevor Peake, David Phillips, David Speedie, the late Cyrille Regis, Gary Bannister and David Smith.

In fact, City’s goalscorer was the only member of that day’s team and manager not to later join Coventry City Former Players Association!

Sir Alex’s defeated Manchester United put out the following team that day:-

Jim Leighton, Mike Duxbury, Mal Donaghy, Steve Bruce, Paul McGrath, Norman Whiteside, Bryan Robson, Russell Beardsmore, Brian McClair, Mark Hughes, Lee Martin (sub. Mark Robins)     Referee:-  Roger Milford (Bristol)

CCFC 1988-89

The Sky Blues certainly got Division One bragging rights that season over Sir Alex Ferguson’s men! Not only did they ‘do the double’ over the Red Devils but they finished the season four places higher (seventh) and four points better off! Arsenal just pipped Liverpool for the title though both got 76 points.

In descending order, Middlesbrough, West Ham United and Newcastle United saw their season end in relegation.

Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images.

Matchday Memories: On This Day 1978 – Sky Blue Scots Secure Season’s End Stalemate At Robins

Deadly Duo: ‘Wally’ & ‘Fergy’

Over 45 years ago today (29th April) in 1978 the Sky Blues finished their 1977-78 Division One season with an away game with Bristol City. Though the Sky Blues created chances the match at Ashton Gate, in front of 21,045 fans, was a somewhat tepid affair ending in a 1-1 draw with both goals coming within a minute on the hour mark. The score reproduced the December result between the two sides at Highfield Road when Mick Ferguson scored a first half goal for the City, later nullified. The Robins were managed by Alan Dicks (now a CCFPA member) the former Sky Blue assistant manager to Jimmy Hill.

Sky Blue Jimmy Blyth

Today, the Robins’ Joe Royle scrambled the first on the hour but the Sky Blues mercurial inside forward Ian Wallace almost immediately cancelled it out by scoring his 23rd goal of the season. CCFC could have scored more but the Gas’ shotstopper John Shaw proved equal to the Sky Blues other efforts.

The Sky Blues goalie Jim Blyth subsequently found out he had been selected for the Scottish World Cup squad –  a real feather in his cap!

Gordon the ‘gaffer’ in City’s infamous brown strip

Gordon Milne‘s team that day (CCFPA members underlined) was:-

Jim Blyth, Brian ‘Harry’ Roberts, Bobby McDonald, Terry Yorath, Keith Osgood, Mick Coop, Alan Green (sub. John Beck), Ian Wallace, Mick Ferguson, Barry Powell and Tommy Hutchison.

Alan Dicks

Alan Dicks‘ Bristol side lined up with the following players:-

John Shaw, Gerry Sweeney, Geoff Merrick, Gerry Gow, David Rodgers, Norman Hunter, Trevor Tainton, Thomas Ritchie, Joe Royle, Jimmy Mann and Clive Whitehead (sub. Kevin Mabbutt)      

Referee:- A.Gunn

 

Alan Dicks at LD22 (AS)

Good to see the manager of the Gas along with the Sky Blues’ Brian and Alan at LD22 at the CBS. Jim, ‘Harry’, ‘Wally’ and Tommy were among our nearly forty FP guests at last years Legends Day 2023.

Gordon Milne‘s Sky Blues ended the season in seventh on 48 points with a creditable haul of 75 league goals, but results elsewhere conspired to prevent CCFC claiming another season in Europe.

If Arsenal had won the F.A.Cup and Liverpool the European Cup, City would have made Europe!

Bristol City finished in seventeeth place in Division One in 1977-78. Nottingham Forest were top flight Champions well clear of second place Liverpool.

Blighted trio West Ham United, Newcastle United and Leicester City suffered the drop that season.

Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images.

 

Members News: ‘Cov Kid’ Stuart Giddings Is Our ‘Tuesday Night Special’ For Tomorrow’s Ipswich Match!

Stuart in the Sky Blue

We are pleased to announce that CCFPA member and Sky Blues former full back/ defender Stuart Giddings will be our ‘special guest’ tomorrow night (ko 8pm) at the Sky Blues’ Championship clash with upwardly mobile Ipswich Town. Though sadly the result will be immaterial for the Sky Blues as Saturday’s goalless draw at Blackburn Rovers ruled them out of their last remaining aspirations for a play-off spot the Tractor Boys still have hopes of an automatic spot giving them access to a Premier League return.

Stuart, very much a ‘Cov. Kid’, will hope like all Sky Blues fans will be hoping his team can stymie these desires of our East Anglian visitors at the CBS in front of SKY TV cameraand produce a positive performance to set them up for their last (home) game of the season on Saturday against Queen’s Park Rangers (which also happens also to be Legends Day 2024)! 

Stuart in July 2002 in England U17 shirt

Stuart, now 38, was brought through the Club’s youth system and collected England caps from under 16 to U19 level along the way. He made his Sky Blues first team debut in the Championship in May 2004 as a sub and made his full debut the following season.

He is yet another illustration of the success of CCFC’s record of bringing through young players to first team action. Even today the Club relies on many players who cut their teeth in the Sky Blues Academy.  Stuart was also a Birmingham Senior Cup winner with City in 2006-07.

Stuart Giddings at LD22

In total, Stuart turned out nineteen times for the first team before being released in March 2008 (after a loan spell at Oldham Athletic). Since 2009 Stuart has played at Hinckley Athletic (two spells), Ilkeston Town and Darlington (on a season’s loan) but his career was sadly set back by a long-term knee ligament injury from 2011.

Stuart has become an increasingly frequent attender of Sky Blues home games and has undertaken the chores of being the Association’s ‘special guest’ at both the Ricoh in the past (including broadcasting with the BBC CWR team) during City’s exile at St Andrews as well as subsequent seasons back at the Ricoh/CBS Arena. He has also turned out for the Sky Blues Legends XI in matches supporting various charitable causes. He was at Wembley supporting the Sky Blues in their recent F.A.Cup semi-final. Stuart has also been present at our most recent major former player gatherings and we look forward to seeing him at this May’s Legends Day 2024.

Stuart Giddings with CCFPA’s ‘Benno’ at LD19

Oggy in the Press Box

Look out for Stuart ‘around the lounges’ pre-match for Q&As in the company of our member, club host and ex Sky Blue defender Brian ‘Harry’ Roberts. After the game, as is tradition, Stuart will be down in the G-Casino appearing on stage with CCFPA’s Billy Bell in their Lady Gs Lounge to wrap up the evening with more craic and a Sky Blue song!

As usual we expect the CCFC Legend that is Steve Ogrizovic (also an Association member) to be doing live match-day commentary for BBC CWR. CCFPA Committee members Mike Young and Jim Brown (chairman) will also have their usual pages in the club’s excellent programme PUSB!

PUSB